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Opel Speedster 2.2 16V (147 Hp) Ecotec
Overall Rating
Opel Speedster:
The Opel Speedster is a mid-engined, targa-topped, two-seat sports car produced by German automaker Opel from July 2000 to July 2005. It was built in both RHD and LHD versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England. It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999 and went into full production the following year.
It was sold by Vauxhall as the VX220 in the United Kingdom and shared much in common with the Lotus Elise, although Opel claimed few parts were interchangeable.
Due to changes in European crash safety regulations for the 2000 model year, Lotus needed to replace the original Elise. In October 1999, a deal was made between Lotus and General Motors in order for the former to gain sufficient funds to develop a new Elise. As part of the deal, Lotus agreed to develop and produce the Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220 on a variation of its new Series 2 Elise chassis, having a 30mm longer wheelbase and lower door sills compared to its Lotus counterpart. The first Speedster concept car was shown at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show....(Read more on Wikipedia)
Speedster Overview:
Opel Speedster (Speedster). With 203 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 870 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is excellent (0–100 km/h in 5.9 s). The top speed reaches 217 km/h. A two-seater convertible designed for open-top driving pleasure. Seating for 2 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Opel Speedster was not officially tested by Euro NCAP. As a minimalist, lightweight sports car, its primary focus was on driving dynamics rather than passive safety features common in mainstream vehicles of its era.
2.2 16V (147 Hp) Ecotec Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Offers a balanced and accessible performance, ideal for spirited road driving with its linear power delivery and sufficient torque for its lightweight chassis.
Fuel Economy
Reasonable fuel economy for a sports car, making it a more practical choice for daily enjoyment or longer weekend drives.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Exceptional handling and steering feel
- • Lightweight and agile chassis
- • Pure, unadulterated driving experience
- • Strong performance, especially with the Turbo engine
- • Distinctive and timeless design
Cons:
- • Very limited practicality and storage space
- • Harsh ride quality due to track-focused suspension
- • Challenging ingress/egress for some
- • Basic interior with minimal creature comforts
- • Can be noisy at speed
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Speedster: February, 2003 - February, 2004).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Opel |
| Model: | Speedster |
| Generation: | Speedster |
| Modification (Engine): | 2.2 16V (147 Hp) Ecotec |
| Start of production: | March, 2001 |
| End of production: | February, 2004 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Roadster |
| Seats: | 2 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 147 Hp @ 5800 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 66.9 Hp/l [Same length.] |
| Torque: | 203 Nm @ 4000 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | Z22SE More details about the engine Z22SE |
| Engine displacement: | 2198 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 4 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 5.5 l |
| Coolant: | 12.3 l |
| Engine layout: | Rear, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 86 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 94.6 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 10:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 12.3 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 6.4 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 8.5 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 5.9 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 5.9 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 217 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 5.9 kg/Hp, 169 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 4.3 kg/Nm, 233.3 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 5.6 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 870 |
| Max. weight: | 1150 |
| Max load: | 280 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 206 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 36 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 3786 mm mm [Same length.] |
| Width: | 1710 mm mm [Same width.] |
| Height: | 1117 mm mm [Same height.] |
| Wheelbase: | 2330 mm mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Width including mirrors: | 1884 mm |
| Front track: | 1450 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1468 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Tires size | 175/55 R17; 225/45 R17 |
| Wheel rims size | 7.5J x 17 |
| Front suspension | Coil spring |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |
What’s the best feature of the Opel Speedster? Tell us in the comments!